Send us your contact information and what you need through our secure Request Assistance form and a VAC team member will follow up. Please do not enter your Social Security number online — we collect that in person.
PACT Act — Expanded Benefits for Toxic-Exposure Veterans
The Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring our PACT Act of 2022 is one of the most significant expansions of VA benefits in decades. Veterans exposed to burn pits, Agent Orange, radiation, and other toxic substances may now qualify for new benefits.
See PACT Act & toxic-exposure help →Our Casework Services
The Macoupin County VAC employs VA-accredited Veteran Service Officers (VSOs) trained to assist Veterans with all aspects of their VA benefit claims — from initial application through appeals — at absolutely no cost. Our officers follow VA M21-1 adjudication procedures and maintain accreditation through NACVSO and the VA Office of General Counsel.
Beware of “Claims Sharks”
For-profit companies are targeting Veterans — the VAC is always free
For-profit companies — sometimes called “claim sharks” — are targeting Veterans, promising big ratings and charging thousands of dollars (often a slice of your back pay) for help you can get from our office for free. Many of them are breaking federal law.
Under 38 U.S.C. §§ 5901 and 5904, only a VA-accredited representative — a recognized Veterans Service Officer, accredited agent, or accredited attorney — may represent you on a VA claim. And no one may legally charge you a fee to prepare or file an initial claim. If a company isn't VA-accredited, it cannot lawfully charge you for claim work at all.
Red flags — walk away if they:
- ⚠ Charge an up-front fee, a monthly fee, or a percentage of your back pay for an initial claim
- ⚠ Guarantee a specific rating or a specific dollar amount
- ⚠ Tell you not to talk to the VA or to a County VSO
- ⚠ Ask for your login credentials or your bank account login
- ⚠ Pressure you to sign quickly, or aren't listed in the VA's accreditation database
Come to us first. We are accredited, and we never charge a dime. If you've already paid a claim shark, you may be able to recover those fees — contact the Illinois Attorney General's consumer protection office, and tell us so we can help.
Don't pay a shark — talk to the VAC free →Verify a Representative's Accreditation
Every legitimate attorney, claims agent, and VSO representative is listed in the VA Office of General Counsel (OGC) accreditation database. Accreditation can be confirmed by searching that public database by the representative's name — if the person or company is not listed, they cannot legally represent you on a VA claim.
Our officers are accredited through NACVSO and the VA Office of General Counsel, and our assistance is always free. If you are unsure whether someone is properly accredited, ask us before you sign anything or pay anyone.
Not sure if someone is accredited? Ask us — Contact the VAC →Evidence That Supports Your Claim
A well-developed claim is the difference between a denial and an award. These are the key pieces of evidence our officers help you assemble. Curious how multiple conditions combine into one rating? Estimate your combined rating →
Nexus Letter
A written medical opinion from a qualified provider that connects your current condition to your military service — usually stating it is “at least as likely as not” related. A strong nexus letter is often the key to winning a condition that isn't automatically presumed.
Lay Statement & Buddy Statement
A lay statement is your own written account of what happened in service and how your condition affects your daily life. A buddy statement is the same from someone who served with you or has witnessed your symptoms. These fill gaps when records are missing — and they carry real weight. We help you write them effectively.
DBQ — Disability Benefits Questionnaire
A standardized form your doctor completes that describes the severity of your condition in the terms the VA uses to assign a rating. A complete, current DBQ helps the VA rate you accurately.
C&P Exam
A Compensation & Pension (C&P) exam is an appointment with a VA or VA-contracted examiner to evaluate a condition you've claimed. It is not treatment — it's an evaluation the VA uses to decide service connection and your rating. Go to the exam, be honest, and describe your condition on its worst days. Missing the exam can cause your claim to be denied.
Tell us about your exam — we'll help you prepare →Recognize a legitimate exam call
If the VA needs an exam for your claim, you'll be contacted by one of four VA-contracted companies — a call or letter from them is real, not a scam. They schedule and perform the exam; the VA still makes the decision. When in doubt, call the VAC before sharing information.
- › Veterans Evaluation Services (VES) — (877) 637-8387 · caller ID “VA EXAM-VES”
- › Leidos QTC Health Services (QTC) — (800) 682-9701 · caller ID “VA EXAM-QTC”
- › Optum Serve / LHI — (866) 933-8387 · caller ID “VA EXAM-Optum”
- › Loyal Source Government Services — (833) 832-7077
Disability Compensation
Tax-free monthly payments for Veterans with service-connected disabilities (0–100%). PACT Act expanded eligibility for toxic-exposure conditions.
- › Service-connected disability ratings (0–100%)
- › PACT Act / toxic-exposure claims (burn pits, Agent Orange)
- › Individual Unemployability (TDIU)
- › Special Monthly Compensation (SMC)
- › Supplemental claims, Higher-Level Review, BVA appeals
VA Pension (Non-Service-Connected)
Needs-based benefit for wartime Veterans with limited income and net worth, with Aid & Attendance and Housebound allowances.
- › Veterans Pension (wartime service, income/net-worth limits)
- › Aid & Attendance (A&A)
- › Housebound allowance
- › Survivors Pension
- › Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC)
VA Health Care Enrollment
Comprehensive medical services to eligible Veterans; priority groups determine co-pays. PACT Act expanded eligibility.
- › VA health care enrollment (Priority Groups 1–8)
- › Community Care referrals
- › Mental health & PTSD treatment
- › Caregiver Support Program
- › Toxic Exposure Screening (PACT Act)
Education Benefits
Education and training benefits for Veterans, service members, and their families.
- › Post-9/11 GI Bill (Ch. 33)
- › Montgomery GI Bill (Ch. 30)
- › Vocational Rehab & Employment (VR&E / Ch. 31)
- › Illinois Veterans' Grant (IVG)
- › Survivors' & Dependents' Educational Assistance (Ch. 35)
Home Loan Guaranty
VA-backed home loans with competitive rates, no down payment, and no PMI for eligible Veterans.
- › VA home loan Certificate of Eligibility
- › Purchase, IRRRL, and cash-out refinance
- › Specially Adapted Housing (SAH) grants
- › Special Home Adaptation (SHA) grants
Burial & Memorial Benefits
Burial in a national cemetery, headstones and markers, burial flags, and Presidential Memorial Certificates.
- › National cemetery burial eligibility
- › Burial allowance (service-connected death)
- › Burial allowance (non-service-connected, pension recipients)
- › Headstones, markers, and medallions
- › Presidential Memorial Certificate
Illinois State Benefits
| Benefit | Description | Eligibility |
|---|---|---|
| SHEVD Property Tax Exemption | Standard Homestead Exemption for Veterans with Disabilities — up to 100% exemption on first $250,000 EAV for 70%+ rated Veterans | Service-connected disability rating |
| Illinois Veterans' Grant (IVG) | Tuition waiver at all Illinois public universities and community colleges | IL resident, honorable discharge, qualifying service |
| Illinois Veterans Homes | Long-term care in Anna, LaSalle, Manteno, Quincy, and Chicago | IL resident, honorable discharge |
| License Plate / Placard | Free or reduced-cost plates and disability placards | Service-connected disability |
| Hunting & Fishing License | Free or reduced license for Veterans with service-connected disability | IL resident, service-connected disability |
| State Income Tax Exemption | Military pay and VA disability compensation exempt from IL income tax | All Illinois Veterans |
VA Appeals — Decision Review Options (AMA)
Under the Appeals Modernization Act, Veterans have three lanes to appeal a VA decision. Our accredited officers assist with all three.
Supplemental Claim
Submit new and relevant evidence not previously considered. Best when you have new medical evidence, buddy statements, or nexus letters.
Higher-Level Review
A senior VA rater reviews your claim for a clear and unmistakable error. No new evidence. Best when you believe the original decision was wrong.
Board of Veterans' Appeals
Appeal to the BVA: Direct Review, Evidence Submission, or a Hearing with a Veterans Law Judge.